I don't know about the rest of you, but this story line with Phillip does not sit well with me. I dated a marine for almost a year a little while back, and my best friend is in the army. I cannot imagine how it sits with people who actually have friends, family or spouses in Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. I think it is really low to make light of a situation that is most people's worst fear. And for some - a worst fear that has been realized...

I couldn't agree more!!!! It would be different if the storyline was played out with Phil really MIA!!!! Having Tony sneak into battle and kidnap him is an insult to all those who truly are puting their life on the line every day.

I totally agree also!! What kind of message is this sending...Philip ending up in the hands of Tony. I know it's just a story, but we all know Reilly takes partial facts from here and there for his stories. It's just too close to the present war situation and with too many holes to be factual. Does that make sense?

My husband is a Marine(10yrs)and this story line has got to be the worst so far for Days. I couldn't believe when they said Philip was a Marine.All I could do was laugh. I haven't been watching Days for a while but read the boards and sicken by this storyline.One of our good friends is in Iraq right now and my husband's brother was in Iraq and this storyline w/Philip is a insult.

I can't say that I agree or disagree, but I was just wondering what exactly about the story line do you consider to be insulting? Is it all the misinformation, the fact that a video such as that shouldn't have been aired before the family saw it? Or, not at all? Just curious. Remember, Days always shows their own version of the way things are done in reality.

I don't know any Marines, so I'm not familiar with all the protocol, but just taking it from a civilian perspective, it doesn't seem to me that the writers/producers are "making light" of this whole situation. If that is true, then I must be watching a different show. They all keep talking about how honorable Phillip is, how noble it is to fight for your country, to put yourself in harm's way for the betterment of humanity. To me, that is paying homage to those who are fighting for our country, isn't it? I'm not trying to upset anyone, I just really want to know why it upsets people who have family in the armed forces.

I know, Tony is really the one who took him, not enemy forces. That is a ridiculous idea on Days part, for sure, but why is it insulting? I don't think that a silly story line on Days has enough power to undermind or insult our armed forces. My guess is that they really wanted the show to stay on top of current events and I think they are attempting to honor the Marines by showing Phillip as this heroic, committed to his wife, strong character. Am I the only one who sees that? Again, just curious. In no way can I even begin to fathom what fighting in a war must be like, or how family members must feel. I just think that if people say that Days shouldn't be showing this kind of thing because it hits too close to home for viewers, then they shouldn't tackle abortion, rape, murder or anything that might traumatize a viewer who can relate to those things. Invariably, someone is going to be upset by anything they see on TV that reminds them of a negative event in his or her life.

realized Phil is about as far from representing a true Marine as it gets!

He never trains, never is at the base, uses his dress uniform like a costume, leads missions as a PFC, gets to make phones calls because he's a newlywed, etc. etc. etc... It's simply a travesty!

Everything he does is done in a self serving manner. He doesn't represent a good or noble man. Much less a Marine! To top it all off - we have his Marine buddies beating up a civilian, his brother hacking into military websites, and he is captured from a war zone by Tony Dimera!

Not to mention - with so many men and women serving overseas, and the constant dangers they face on a daily basis - seeing this RIDICULOUS representation does NOT make family and friends at home feel 'honored'. It's angering and frustrating and insulting.

Not to mention - soaps are supposed to be a form of escape - not a place to see your worst fears come true on a daily basis! Do you think family members want to see MIA or kidnap scenarios? Soap opera or not - it brings to the forefront what they worry about most!

well said Amy. Marines hold a high standard such as their appearance(sp): hair cut,uniform,behavior.And sadly Philip doesn't represent any of those so that's why it's a big insult to those who are Marines. If you knew a Marine, you would know what we are talking about.

I'm was an Airforce brat. My father was stationed in Alaska for a year twice. He spied on other countries while there. He was also in training 5 mths out of the year. This went on for 20 years of active duty. He was require to live on base because of security reason though I understand others are not required to. My father went to work every day, was only allowed to take vacations, no special leave. It is an insult to see the way that DOOL is writing the military. I wish my father was around more when I was growing up, but I completely understand the phrase "DUTY TO OUR COUNTRY". If I hear that phrase one more time from Phillip, Belle or Kate, I think I will gag. Again it is a complete insult to all the military and thier familys.

For all of your responses. I see what you mean, and although I don't KNOW any Marines, I have to clarify a bit. Currently, I don't know any Marines, that is true. However, my biological father was a Marine, a drug addict, abusive to my mother and has had no contact with me since I was four years old (I'm 29 now). I lived with my grandmother from age 4 to age 11 (she used to watch Days all the time) and she was married to a Marine who was just a mean person, verbally abusive and I was horrified of him. Not a drug user or anything, and I'm sure at work he was a stellar guy, but not at home, he wasn't. My point is that you are all lucky to know Marines who are apparently in the majority and are all courageous, admirable people. I don't know my father at all, and I'm happy about that, but unfortunatly for the Marine Corps, he was a Marine. There are exceptions to everything.

It doesn't have anything to do with Phillip's storyline, but I felt the need to share that, for what it's worth. My father's absence in my life has made quite an impact. He's not a good man, but he was a Marine. Someone said "if you knew a Marine, you'd know what we're talking about" or something like that. Unfortunately for me, I don't a Marine, and I should know him because he's my father.

I do agree that Days is taking many liberties with this storyline regarding the realities of war, the Corps, all of it. Regardless of that, the storyline sucks anyway. But, we all know that Days twists EVERYTHING in real life to it's own weird version of reality.

Thank you all for sharing your feelings, I appreciate it. I truly don't mean to offend with my queries and opinions.

Peace

I'm sorry you had a bad experiance with your father, but I don't beleive it has anything to do with being a marine. I think some people are just {dont mean to offend} evil. No one should have to put up with abuse. I don't know you, but you seem to have turn out to be a smart, outstanding person (just know what i know from your post}. Things like that tend to make a better people. Thanks for sharing your story. Good luck in all you do.

lets see if i can stay on topic .to perpetuate a tactic that is being used in a prelude to a beheading is shameless.this may have been said already.one thing really bugs me almost as much , he's only a pfc. how could he lead a raid? I.S.A or not, he doesn't have any combat experience or the stripes. and if he is I.S.A. that means he has scored high enough to be admitted to officer candidate school.well that isn't much consolation.he'd just come out of there a dumb boot louie,2nd lt. that is. how could Belle go out with a dumb ass who can't even make lance corporal yet?i was in the evacuation of saigon in 1975.being a Marine, this guy is joke. not his fault . the writers are to be held accountable.it's like he just started to wipe himself. he's supposed to represent the best we have.in every conflict the mention of the army rangers and seals are always broadcast for all to hear. you never hear the marine recon is on the way. because they are already there. if phil is the best we have , we are in trouble. the writers better give our troops a lift spiritually, while not bringing the loss of life to the memories of those who have lost.shameless and out of ideas,

For your kind words. And to Sgt. Rock and everyone else who has family and friends in the military, maybe you should post your concerns on the official Days website, or send them a letter. I guess you are all right, their feeble attempts to portray a Marine in a positve light has seemed to fail miserably. The average layman, like myself, wouldn't notice these things that you all point out. The writers deserve a few letters about MANY topics when you think about it.